Home · Sports · Sep 13 archive
Ronaldo Demands Lifetime Bans Over Jota Chants
Confirmed
In Short: Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the late Diogo Jota's name towards his international teammate Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the star forward for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and a former teammate of Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota, has demanded that the league take decisive action against fans who chanted Jota's name at Neves during a recent match. The chants, which occurred during Al-Hilal's 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, were seen as a deliberate provocation by Neves, who was close friends with both Jota and the late Diogo Jota.
According to reports, supporters at the match repeatedly shouted "Jota" at Neves, who was visibly upset by the chants. Neves, who was a pallbearer at Jota's funeral after the tragic car crash that killed the 28-year-old in July 2025, expressed his frustration to reporters, saying, "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did." The chants were particularly poignant given that Jota and Neves had played together for both Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portuguese national team.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the conduct of fans in professional football. The Saudi Pro League has yet to comment on Ronaldo's call for lifetime bans, but the incident has drawn attention to the need for stricter enforcement of fan behavior policies. The league has a responsibility to ensure that matches are conducted in a respectful and dignified manner, especially in light of the tragic loss of Jota and his brother, André Silva, in the same car accident.
The close bond between Jota and Neves, as well as their shared experiences with the Portuguese national team, adds a layer of emotional weight to the incident. Neves, who carried Jota's coffin at his funeral, has spoken publicly about the impact of losing his friend. The chants at Neves during the match were seen as a desecration of Jota's memory and a violation of the trust and friendship between the players.
In response to the incident, Ronaldo's call for lifetime bans has gained support from fans and fellow players alike. The incident highlights the need for greater accountability and respect from fans, particularly in high-profile matches where the memories of deceased players are still fresh. As the debate continues, the Saudi Pro League faces the challenge of balancing the excitement of the game with the need to honor the memory of those who have passed away.
What's confirmed
- Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and was a Portugal team-mate of the late Diogo Jota Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the late Diogo Jota's name towards his international team-mate Ruben Neves.
- Supporters appeared to target Al-Hilal midfielder Neves before his side's 6-0 win against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday by repeatedly shouting "Jota" at him.
- "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour," forward Ronaldo, who also plays in the Saudi league for Al-Nassr, wrote on social media.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has called for the Saudi Pro League to ban fans for life after appalling Diogo Jota chants were aimed at Ruben Neves on Saturday.
- Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves subjected to chants at Al-Taawoun Neves was close friend of Jota and pallbearer at funeral Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves subjected to chants at Al-Taawoun Neves was close friend of Jota and pallbearer at funeral Cristiano Ronaldo said that fans who appeared to make chants referencing his former teammate Diogo Jota at Rúben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match should be banned for life from football stadiums.
- The chants occurred on Saturday during a fixture between Al-Taawoun and Neves’s side, Al-Hilal, in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
- Jota died last year in a car crash in Zamora, north-western Spain, along with his brother André Silva.
- Footage filmed from the stands during the match and circulated on social media appeared to show supporters chanting “Jota”.
What's still developing
- Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi side Al Nassr and was also a Portugal teammate of Jota, has called for action after the disgusting actions of some fans, urging lifetime fans to be dished out.
- Passing journalists after the game, Neves said of those aiming the chants at him: ‘I just hope they don’t go to pray later.’ ‘When I go to the selection, you’ll still be next to me at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane… you’ll always be there with me as always.
- He revealed last year that he had a tattoo etched onto his leg depicting him embracing Jota, a lasting tribute to their bond.
- Writing on Instagram on Sunday, Ronaldo declared: Neves himself addressed the incident briefly as he moved through the post-match mixed zone after Al-Hilal's dominant 6-0 victory.
- Jota died in July 2025 at the age of 28, alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, when the car they were travelling in came off the road in Zamora, Spain.
- Roberto Martinez, then head coach, said Neves had a very close relationship with Jota and was the ideal person to represent him.
- Footage circulated widely on social media after Al-Hilal's 6-0 win at Al-Taawoun, filmed from the home stands showing Neves standing over a free-kick close to the supporters when chants of "Jota, Jota, Jota" became audible.
- Neves and Jota were born four months apart and grew up in the game together — Portugal's youth sides, then Porto, then a joint move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship in July 2017.